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According to the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, organizations conducting investigations into Covid-19 may be targeted by hackers linked to the Chinese government.
No agency cited any specific examples, but warned on Wednesday that institutions and companies involved in coronavirus vaccines, treatments and tests should take additional security measures to protect the data and be aware of the potential threat.
“China’s efforts to target these sectors pose a significant threat to our nation’s response to Covid-19,” the US Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Security Agency said in a statement. USA “This announcement is intended to raise awareness for research institutions and the American public and to provide resources and guidance for those who may be targeted.”
On Monday, when media reports emerged about the upcoming security warning, Donald Trump said: “What else is new with China? What else is new? Tell me. I’m not happy with China.”
China defended its response to the virus, and on Monday Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denied that the government was involved in any attempt to steal data related to the virus.
“China is a strong advocate of cyber security and a victim of cyber attacks,” he said. “We strongly oppose and combat all kinds of cyber attacks carried out by hackers. We are world leaders in Covid-19 treatment and vaccine research. It is immoral to attack China with rumors and slander in the absence of evidence. “
On Weibo, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the state-run media organization Global Times, dismissed the accusation as a “gimmick” and “just a new point of attack.” He said the United States will continue to accuse China of concealing the epidemic for a long time, “because this accusation is particularly in line with the long-term distortion of China’s image by the United States and Western opinion.”
“Several new charges would follow,” he said. In his post and in an accompanying video, Hu predicted that the main allegations were gradually going from “Wuhan virus” to “stealing the American vaccine. [research]”
It comes amid intense tensions between the two countries over the source of the outbreak and complaints from the Trump administration that China failed to adequately alert the world to the danger posed by the coronavirus.
The warning also echoes the United States’ complaints that China has engaged in the theft of technology and trade secrets to build its economy.
Institutions that have received media attention for their Covid-19 related efforts should assume they would be attacked and take precautions, the Justice Department said.
“The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of safe, effective and efficient treatment options,” he said.
The FBI and the cybersecurity agency said they were issuing the alert to raise awareness of the possible threat, and said additional technical details will be released in the coming days.
Additional reports from Lillian Yang and Associated Press
